Setting and Reaching Goals

In training, goals are key. You should always know what it is you're trying to do. It seems so obvious and simple, but a LOT of people just don't do it. If you start a new training program with no goal as to what you're trying to accomplish, what makes you think you would actually accomplish it? If you needed to drive from New York to California, and hopped in your car from NY and just started driving around, with no thought given to direction, you would be just as likely to end up in Bangor, Maine as you are to end up in Cali. It's the same thing with training. If you don't know and specify exactly what it is you're trying to accomplish, why would you think you're going to accomplish it? Why would you accomplish anything? Truthfully, the end goal should probably be the first thing you figure out in your training, before sets, reps, rest intervals, frequency, training attire, straight whey or whey+casein+egg protein post workout, taking a million or two million BCAAs peri-workout, etc. (Ok, the last three are obviously unimportant, but you get the point). 

So what should you do with this information? If you don't already have a specific goal regarding what it is you're trying to accomplish with your training, figure it out and get one. Then, put together an INTELLIGENT plan that will get where you want to go (what constitutes a plan as intelligent? Well, that's what I'm here for! :)  Once you have your goal and plan of action set-up and good to go, put it to use. Go do it. If your goal was something that you wanted, your plan was based on solid principles and you followed through with it, you will have no choice but to, if not completely reached your goal, be a lot closer to reaching it. And all this of simply because you knew you wanted to get to the sunny land of California, instead of the frozen tundra of Bangor, Maine.